Charleston man pleads guilty to cocaine charge

Friday, July 27, 2007

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston man pled guilty to distributing cocaine base on Wednesday, according to a news release from United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway.

Christopher Booker, 34, pled guilty to one felony count of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base and one felony count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base.

On or about May 7, at Booker's residence on Vine Street in Charleston, he sold 8.6 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

Following the purchase, officers for the task force and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Booker's residence. Booker was present and placed under arrest.

During the search, officers located 23.1 grams of cocaine inside Booker's left pant pocket. In the other pocket, $537 was located, including the $300 officers used to purchase crack cocaine earlier that day. A prescription pill bottle containing 6.4 grams of crack cocaine was located ina coffee cup inside a kitchen cabinet. A .44 caliber pistol was located in a kitchen hutch, as well as a Phoenix Arms .25 caliber pistol in the northeast bedroom. A digital scale and $2,100 was also recovered.